Hurricane Rita…

 

Nine years ago this week Hurricane Rita hit.  It was right after Katrina and was sort of the “forgotten” hurricane.  It struck Southeast Texas and was very scary for a lot of folks.

My parents packed up Max and came to ride out the storm at my old house in Spring.  It was an anxiety filled couple of days.  When it was over, Daddy and I made the trip back to Vidor to look at the damage.  It was horrific.  It literally looked like a giant had stepped on trees and houses.  It spared some houses and demolished others.  There were area where trees were destroyed but the next tree over was spared. My parent’s house was not spared. There were broken windows and tree limbs everywhere.  It had been flooded and they lost almost everything.

Over the next few months my parents waited for the insurance and Federal Government to move at their slow pace.  When it was all said and done, the house was condemned and they were forced to move out.  FEMA bought several houses in Vidor and my parent’s house was one of them.

My mom especially took it very hard.  In hindsight this was the end of an era.  The Vidorian Hillbilly Wistners moved west.  More anxiety followed with where to live and getting the VA loan in order and so forth.  As luck would have it, my brother and sister-in-law were selling their house in The Woodlands.  (About 20 minutes from me and about 45 from Amy).  The deal was made and the Vidorians moved to the true suburbs.

I know there are not as many memories in this house, but I don’t have to worry about my mom fretting when it rains.  Their new house is high and dry and weathers the storms nicely.  They were so confident in it that they didn’t evacuate for Hurricane Ike.  It’s far enough inland that it didn’t get anything but rain and strong winds. 

The new house is where William and Erin know my parents.  They are safe and comfortable there and will never know any differently.  I’m so glad that my parents moved over here.  They help us both out when the kids are sick or when something breaks, but the best part of the move has been the time they get to spend with their grandkids now.  They’re not 2 hours away!

Mom lost a lot of “stuff” when the house was condemned, but ultimately she gained.  I think if you asked my parents today they would tell you the forgotten hurricane was the best thing that happened to them!

Toobin’…

 

Erin’s appointment with Texas Children’s was yesterday.  She failed the hearing test again so they have recommended another set of tubes.

Of course, as always, they run like clockwork at TCH.  Our appointments were at 8:00 and 9:10 and we were home by 10:15 and that was after dropping Erin off at school. It’s crazy how they can get you in, take time with you so you don’t feel rushed and still get you out quickly.  One of the downsides to another surgery is that it has to be done downtown at the TCH hospital, but if they run the surgeries like they do the appointments, we’ll be in and out of there no problem.

Dr. G told us that 1/3 of the people with tubes have to get another set.  She said Erin’s ears just haven’t grown enough for them to drain correctly.  She said the Eustachian tubes are still not angled enough for the fluid to drain.  The first tubes had grown out and were not doing anything for over a year, so we need another set to be put in and grow with her again.  Dr. G said she has put as many as 7 sets in some kids.  She said those were extreme cases, but that it’s not unusual to have more than one set.

Erin has trouble hearing low pitches.  That’s why she can’t hear the TV sometimes.  I think that could be part of the reason she’s sort of loud.  Part of it is that she’s a four year old little girl, but the doctor said she’s hearing things muffled and that can add to it.  Dr. G equated this to being on an airplane and needing to pop your ears.  There is pressure there and you feel it, and you can still hear, but things are muffled.

They’ve already called us to schedule the surgery.  We go next Thursday, October 2nd.  The scheduler said they’ll call back on Wednesday to give us the time, but that they take the cases in age order.  She said that the 4 to 5 year olds are usually mid-morning to lunch.  The hardest part of that will be explaining to Erin why she can’t have anything to eat or drink. 

The doctor was very confident that this would solve the problem. 

In Training…

 

I started my new job today.  I’m set up at the house at the dining room table.  I’m sitting here in yoga pants, a crappy shirt, no make-up, hair in a ponytail and a Cowboys hat on.  I. Love. It!!

I’m doing virtual training until the middle of November.  So, until then I don’t have to get up and get ready for anything work related. 

I have to log on to the computer system and they can see who is in the virtual classroom but so far the participation is sort of voluntary.  If it stays like this, I’m really NEVER going to question why I made the move to Fire Company!!! 

Escape from Alcatraz…

 

My faith in humanity has been restored.  Last night when I was giving Erin a bath I heard the phone ring.  I didn’t think much of it because the only people who call our home number during bath/dinner are my Momma and telemarketers!

We got out of the bathtub and came back downstairs.  Tommy was no where to be seen.  I figured he was out in the garage or doing something else in another room and I just didn’t see him. 

Erin wanted to watch a little Disney Junior before we went to bed.  I got her settled in and picked up my cell phone.  There was a message from a woman in our neighborhood who said she had Mae and that Scooby had gotten away.  I immediately jumped up and ran to the door.  Both dogs were in the backyard but still no Tommy!

I let the dogs in and searched for him all over.  I stuck my head out into the garage and he wasn’t there.  He wasn’t in the backyard or out the front door.  I finally ended up texting him.  The response I got was DOGS GOT OUT.  FIXING FENCE.  He was on the side of the house at the gate and I just didn’t see him.

So, apparently the nice lady saw both numbers on Mae’s tag and called Tommy too.  Somehow, he got the dogs back and discovered they had broken the latch on the gate.  All of this went down while we were upstairs with Erin’s bath so I don’t know all of the particulars.  When Tommy came back inside from fixing the fence he wasn’t exactly in a chatty mood. 

Tommy had just that morning reminded me how much he hated my dogs.  This did not help win him over.  He was hot and totally ticked off.

So, I was happy that the lady called and very thankful they had their ID tags on.  There are nice people in the world.

A Life Lesson…

 

I’ve always known that life was not fair, but now I really know it.

On paper I officially started my new position on Saturday.  It was strange because it was in the middle of a pay period and not at the beginning like they usually do.  With this being said, I logged in yesterday and all my information on the system had been switched over.  I was not able to work my previous job yesterday because I didn’t have security access since I was moved on the system.

Now comes the unfair part…

Because I started on paper in the middle of a pay period I have a week in limbo.

My new position is a proximity job, meaning I work out of the house and a company car.  Technically I should have started working from home yesterday.  Since I’ve changed positions I don’t have an new boss yet.  I think they’ll assign me one this week, but it’s still up in the air.  My former boss is totally inflexible.  He insisted I come into the office this week and work my old stuff.  I tried to tell him I couldn’t but he still insisted I come in.  So, yesterday I sat there unable to log in.  It appears I’ll be doing that all week.  I managed to get some CE classes in, but it’s doubtful I can do that all week.

I reached out to some new team members in the Waco area and they’re all working from home this week.  Proof that my OLD boss is inflexible and that life is unfair. 

My training for the new job will be mostly virtual but the classes don’t start until Monday.  I have a link that I sign into everyday to see which virtual classroom I’m assigned to.  It’s going to be strange doing it that way, but I think I’ll like it.  I’m hoping we don’t have to log in via webcam so I can just stay in my pajamas!!  I guess I could leave my pj bottoms on and just put on a shirt!!!  LOL  I’ll be ready with makeup and hair done on Monday, but if it’s not a webcam class, it’s on after that!

Think about me this week.  I’ll be bored out of my skull in an office I should have already vacated. 

3 more days not counting today.  I can do anything for 3 days, right?

Boys Gone Wild…

 

Tommy and his friend Josh just ended a road/fishing trip. 

They went to Port Aransas for off shore fishing.  They left on Tuesday and got back yesterday.  The original guide fell thru so they found a guide with an airboat and they booked him.  I think it was a lot of confusion until they actually got it booked.  Glad I wasn’t there for that.  I’m sure Tommy gave some quotes to the original guide.

Tommy sent me pictures of the haul and it’s a good lot of fish.  He caught a 27 inch red fish and told me the guide was more excited than he was!

They got back last night in time for him to pick up Erin.  They had a much needed Father/Daughter supper and I think they might have went for ice cream.  She was thrilled to have him back and insisted he lay with her last night to fall asleep.  I’m not sure who was asleep first, him or her.

 

 

Bad Momma…

 

We went to Schlitterbahn water park in Galveston yesterday. 

Team Players:

Gram, Pawpaw, Aunt Mimi, Uncle Matt, William, Aunt LoLo, and the Killians – Travis, Rebekah, and Avery.  (Avery and Erin were BFFs at Gateway pre-school.)  Avery moved away last Spring but we’ve kept in touch.  Since this was a last minute make up trip I thought maybe the Killians were down with last minute plans and they were!  Erin squealed when she saw Avery.  They ran to each other and hugged and jumped around like crazy.  It is so cute to watch them. 

I was bad and didn’t carry my camera around with me much.  I snapped some pictures early then got tired of carrying it.  I gave it to Aunt Mimi to hold for me at one point and forgot she had it.  She didn’t think to snap any either!!!  Two bad Mommas!!!

It was supposed to rain down there and it got cloudy and dark all around us but never rained on our parade.  It was like it just blew around us.

As expected, we took Erin on the biggest meanest slide they had and before we could get out of the big tube at the bottom she was telling us she wanted to do it again.  I have such an adrenaline junkie daughter.  The bigger, tougher and scarier the better for her.  She just laughs and giggles the whole way down.  Since Daddy doesn’t much care for roller coasters I think I’ve found my riding companion when she’s a little taller!

William wasn’t as impressed with the big slide.  There was another big one on the same platform and in hindsight, we should have started him off with that one.  The biggest toughest one wasn’t what he was into yesterday.  (But at SeaWorld he loved the big one!)  Live and learn. 

We lost the Killians at one point but they rode the same slide and I think Avery liked it too.  Mr. Travis and Uncle Matt went down the one that drops you straight down.  Thanks but no thanks.  I’ve done that one before and remember it was fun, but the water enema and wedgie I got last time was still fresh in my memory so I opted out of that one. 

All in all, a great day.

Moose Out Front Shoulda Told Ya…

 

We were all set to go to San Antonio again this weekend.  Rooms were booked, season passes ready and boom…we found out SeaWorld is closed now for the season.  Nice.

We had told Erin at the beginning of the week that we were going to SeaWorld. She was so excited.  We were going to spend Friday at SeaWorld and all day Saturday at their water park.  Change of plans.

Instead of San Antonio, Team WAM is going to Galveston to go to Schlitterbahn water park there.  It’s smaller but still fun.  Tommy and I haven’t been in years, but from what I remember they have a good kid’s area. 

More pictures later on our latest adventure!

It’s That Time Again…

 

Texans outfit, check.  A&M modified shirt, check.  Dallas Cowboys blinged shirt, check.  We’re set!  It’s football time again!

Erin was with Momma and Daddy on Saturday so I made her an A&M shirt.  I couldn’t find a small one that I liked.  They all looks so boyish.  So, I took a page from Bridgette Ramsey’s book and bought a bigger one and modified it. 

I also had a hard time finding a Cowboys shirt here that I liked.  (Dang Texans) They were all jersey style with someone’s name on the back and I didn’t want that.  So, I found a plain men’s Dallas Cowboys shirt at Academy.  I bought it thinking about what I could do to it to make it more girly. So, I hemmed the sides girl style and cut off the sleeves.  I also added some frill at the bottom to make it not so long.  I had some left over Cowboys material from where I made PJ pants so I cut out some stars and added them to the front too.  Tommy told me I for sure made it girly!  (I just noticed that the picture looks crooked.  I promise the shirt is straight.  I’m not that bad at sewing!)

Lastly, I made Erin a super cute Texans outfit last weekend.  Stephanie had posted a picture to my FB page of a shredded skirt made out of Texans colors.  It looked easy enough so I made one.  I cut out a helmet and put it on a white tank to go with it, but I really don’t like the shirt.  I’m going to make another one, but this was good enough to wear to school on Thursday for the pre-season!  Erin’s teacher from last year liked it so much that she asked me to make one for her daughter.  Grace is in Erin’s grade, so there will be two of them on game days!

I picked out a shirt for Tommy that I really liked and it’s already been returned to Academy.  He thought it was wimpy.  It’s was an A&M shirt but apparently only tough A&M shirts are welcome here.

Fantasy Football has started and Tom has 2 teams.  He’s in an expensive one thru work where the pots are super high and a smaller cheaper league on the cul-de-sac.  I had a chance to play but it just takes up too much time.  I didn’t want to spend what spare time I have setting up a line up!!  So, I took a pass – pun intended!  I’m sure I would have dominated the league anyway!